Kings

B-

Playwright Sarah Burgess, who had her Public Theater debut with Dry Powder,  a dark comedy about a private equity firm, is back with a new play that gives us a look at the corrosive effect of money on American politics as seen from the viewpoint of two lobbyists, a new congresswoman and a veteran senator. The well-connected Lauren (Aya Cash; The Light Years, The Other Place) used to work for Texas Sen. John McDowell (Zach Grenier; Describe the Night, 33 Variations) and now lobbies him. Kate (Gillian Jacobs; “Community”), a less successful lobbyist whose client list consists mostly of minor medical associations, is Lauren’s frenemy. Rep. Sydney Millsap (Eisa Davis; Passing Strange, Preludes), an African-American Gold Star widow from Dallas who has surprisingly won her seat in a special election, hasn’t yet learned how the influence-peddling game works and doesn’t want to. On the positive side, the play captures the soul-sucking tedium of spending hours on the phone calling potential donors and hosting a seemingly endless round of fundraising events. The example of lobbying against a bill to eliminate carried interest is timely. The illustration of the depths to which unidentified deep-pocketed donors will go to get their way is ugly if not shocking. I was relieved that there is no specific mention of the current occupant of the White House. The portrayal of three strong women characters is appealing. On the negative side, characters often seem more like contrivances than flesh and blood people and the tone occasionally veers toward the pedantic. The political maneuvering onstage offers no surprises to anyone who follows the news regularly, but in today’s climate, it is almost comforting for its predictability and familiarity. The play is intelligent and reasonably entertaining, but seems a bit repetitive. The significance of the title eluded me. The actors are all strong. The decision to stage the play with the audience on two sides is problematic. The scenic design by Anna Louizos (In the Heights, School of Rock) features four bar stools and two tables that are reconfigured with annoying frequency and occasionally revolve. Paula Tazewell’s (Hamilton, The Color Purple) costumes suit their characters well. Thomas Kail (Hamilton, Dry Powder) directed. Warning: You may have a craving for fajitas afterwards. Running time: one hour 45 minutes; no intermission.